"Nic Vanderbeeken's nine-course borderless menu above a Ubud valley — fly in for a milestone dinner you want photographed."
About Apéritif
Nic Vanderbeeken calls his cooking Borderless Food, and at Apéritif that means a tasting menu that moves between French technique, Japanese restraint and Indonesian spice without apology. The restaurant occupies a Dutch colonial-style building inside Viceroy Bali, perched over a coconut-fringed valley in Ubud, and it is built as a destination rather than a hotel afterthought. With more than twenty years in kitchens behind him, Vanderbeeken runs it as Bali's most ambitious fine-dining room — see where it lands among the world's best fine-dining restaurants.
The Kitchen
Vanderbeeken's menu is structured as degustation: a signature route, an avant-garde route and a full vegan menu, all changing with the Balinese calendar. The degustation starts from IDR 1,350,000 for the eight-course, with the standard dinner around IDR 1,900,000++ and the vegan menu near IDR 1,250,000++. The cooking is precise and Indonesian-rooted: the Papua crab in a gulai sauce of turmeric, galangal and lemongrass, and the karedok built as a concentric assemblage with tofu emulsion and peanut sauce, are the dishes that define his style. Apéritif took the World Luxury Restaurant Award for Best Fine Dining Cuisine in Asia in 2021, and sits within Viceroy Bali on Jalan Lanyahan in Petulu, Ubud. For a Bukit contrast, compare Cuca.
The Room
The room is the headline as much as the food: a high-ceilinged colonial-style space opening onto a valley, with a dramatic bar and tables angled toward the view. Sound stays low and conversational, lighting is candle-dim in the evening, and the spacing is generous — this is a room built for occasion, not turnover. Service is formal and attentive across a long menu. Dress is resort-formal; arrive before sunset to take the valley light, and reserve a valley-facing table when you book.
Best for an Anniversary
Book this room for an anniversary because everything is calibrated for it: the valley view at dusk, a long degustation that paces the evening, and a hushed, candlelit room made for two. The bar is a natural place to start or finish. Many couples treat it as the centrepiece of an Ubud trip; see more anniversary restaurants worth the journey, or browse the full Bali dining guide. For how to tell a destination room from a tourist trap, read our seven signs of a great restaurant.
Not for
Not for a casual weeknight or a small budget — it is a long, formal degustation in resort surroundings, priced and paced accordingly.
Frequently Asked
Is Apéritif worth it?
Yes, if you want destination-level fine dining and treat it as the centrepiece of an Ubud trip rather than a casual dinner. Chef Nic Vanderbeeken's borderless degustation is among the most ambitious cooking in Bali, and the valley-facing room is a genuine occasion in itself. It is expensive by Bali standards, so go for a milestone, take the wine pairing, and give the evening the time it asks for.
How hard is it to book Apéritif?
Book ahead, especially for sunset seatings and Bali's high season around July, August and the year-end holidays. Reservations go through Apéritif's own site and SevenRooms. Ask specifically for a valley-facing table and an early seating if you want the dusk light, since those go first. Being a guest at Viceroy Bali can make the booking easier, but the restaurant draws diners from across the island, not just the resort.
What should I order at Apéritif?
Choose between the signature degustation, the avant-garde menu and the full vegan menu — the kitchen is built around the set routes rather than à la carte. Within them, the Papua crab in gulai sauce and the karedok with tofu emulsion are the dishes that show Vanderbeeken's Indonesian-rooted, borderless style best. Add the wine pairing if you want the full arc; the bar program is strong enough to bookend the meal.
What does a meal at Apéritif cost?
The degustation starts from around IDR 1,350,000 for the eight-course, with the standard dinner menu near IDR 1,900,000++ and a vegan menu around IDR 1,250,000++, before pairings and service. That places it at the top of Bali's pricing, in line with its destination billing. With wine and the longer menus, budget for a full fine-dining evening rather than a casual dinner out.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Apéritif
Booking through Apéritif's own reservation site.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressJl. Lanyahan, Br. Nagi, Petulu, Ubud (within Viceroy Bali)
NeighbourhoodUbud (Viceroy Bali)
CuisineBorderless Fine Dining
PriceDegustation from IDR 1.35m; standard ~IDR 1.9m++
Dress CodeSmart (resort-formal)
SeatingDining room and bar, valley-facing
ReservationDirect site / SevenRooms
